Where to Buy Lumia Phones

The highlights are Microsoft's latest smartphones, the Lumia 540 dual-SIM, which is a 5-inch phone that costs 30,000 Naira on Konga and the Lumia 640 XL, a 5.7-inch phablet that goes for 58,500 Naira on Konga.

Just Buy a Lumia 540 Dual SIM, Lumia 640 XL Dual SIM, Lumia 535 Dual SIM or other recent Lumia phone from the Konga online store and follow a couple of instructions for a chance to win one of five tickets for an all expense paid trip to the city of London.

The only other requirement after buying the Lumia phone from Konga is to drop a few lines describing how you intend to achieve more with your new Lumia device.

According to Konga, winners will be picked based on the creativity and originality of their entries.

Note that there are many merchants that sell Lumia phones on Konga, however this offer is valid if you buy directly from Konga. The offer is only valid for Lumia phones bought between June 24 and August 31.

The Lumia 540 is another budget dual-SIM phone that has just been unveiled by Microsoft and set to hit stores in Africa and Asia from May. Microsoft Lumia 540 features a great HD display, while also offering superb Skype experience and ability to use Office seamlessly on the go.

Where to Buy Lumia Phones

Display and Camera

As the ‘5’ in its name indicates, the Microsoft Lumia 540 sports a 5-inch display. The large screen has an HD resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels and a pixel density of 294 ppi, promising a highly enjoyable game-playing or movie-watching experience.

The smartphone packs an impressive 8-megapixel rear camera with LED flash and autofocus. A stunning 5-megapixel shooter with wide angles ensures superb selfies and great video calling. With a single tap, users will be able to switch from regular phone calls to Skype video calls.

Power and Performance

Microsoft Lumia 540 is powered by a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 200 processor running at speeds of up to 1.2GHz. The chip is given needed boost by RAM of 1GB. The phone runs on Windows Phone 8.1 operating system with Lumia Denim update.

It offers an affordable means of enjoying the upcoming Windows 10 – through upgrade – when it becomes available. Microsoft Lumia 540 is provided with a 2200mAh removable battery, which its maker says can give more than 14 hours of talk time.

Other Features

Onboard storage on the Microsoft Lumia 540 is 8GB and buyers will also get as much as 30GB OneDrive complementary cloud storage. And if that storage space is not enough for you, up to 128GB can still be added using a microSD card.

Microsoft Lumia 540 features Smart Dual SIM, which makes it possible to easily enable call forwarding and call waiting between SIMs with only a tap. It supports 3G, but not 4G connectivity. You will be able to view and edit Microsoft Office documents on the go with the smartphone.

Microsoft Lumia 540, which will come in matte black, white, cyan and orange, is expected to hit markets in Asia, Middle East and Africa in May at a suggested price of $149.

Pricing and availability

Microsoft Lumia 540 is not available in Nigeria, it will start shipping in May, 2015 in some countries. Microsoft is aiming for this phone to sell for about $149. We currently have no information on pricing and availability. Microsoft Lumia 540 Price in Nigeria should range from N30,000 to N37,000 at launch.

Microsoft Lumia 430 is an ultra budget dual-SIM smartphone aimed at emerging markets. It is designed for both work and play, while offering, perhaps, the cheapest means of having Windows 10 run on your mobile device.

Where to Buy Lumia Phones

Design, Display and Camera

Microsoft Lumia 430 looks and feels compact with a promise of useful ruggedness, judging from its polycarbonate shell. The device is fitted with a 4-inch WVGA (480 x 800 pixels) display.

In terms of cameras, the phone offers a 2 megapixels rear camera and a 0.3 megapixels front-facing camera. The low specifications of the cameras can be overlooked given the expected highly low price of the smartphone.

Processor and Memory

Performance is anchored by a dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 200 processor running at 1.2GHz, with backing provided by RAM of 1GB. Internal storage is 8GB and this can be extended up to 128GB through the use of a microSD.

For extra storage, you are given complimentary 30GB space on OneDrive - enough room for hundreds or thousands of documents, photos and songs.

The OS

Microsoft Lumia 430 will run on Windows Phone 8.1 mobile operating system with the Lumia Denim firmware. Users will be able to enjoy free upgrade to Windows 10 when it becomes available later this year.

However, Microsoft notes that not all existing phones will be able to support every feature on its latest operating system.

Superior Skype Experience

The use of Skype is greatly simplified on the Microsoft Lumia 430. In spite of the meagre front-facing camera, the phone is designed to make Skype use quite seamless.

You can easily switch from a regular phone call to a video call on Skype. Skype calls can be made directly from the contact list on the phone and Skype calls can be received without issues.

Microsoft Lumia 430, which supports use of two SIM cards, packs a 1500mAh battery with a maximum standby time of 19 hours. It supports 3.5G connectivity. The phone is expected to sell for around $70, which is quite a great bargain for a device upgradeable to Windows 10.

Pricing and availability

Microsoft Lumia 430 is not available in Nigeria, though it is expected soon. Microsoft is aiming for this phone to be less than 70 EUR. We currently have no information on pricing and availability. Microsoft Lumia 430 Price in Nigeria should range from N15,000 to N21,000 at launch.

The Lumia 640 XL is a mid-range phablet recently unveiled by Microsoft, along with its smaller namesake, the Lumia 640. It is, unsurprisingly, a Windows Phone 8.1 device and comes with some great features despite its pocket-friendly price.

Where to Buy Lumia Phones

Display and Camera

Microsoft fits a 5.7-inch IPS screen on the Lumia 640 XL, which represents significant improvement on the one used on the regular Lumia 640. The display has an HD resolution of 720 x 1280 pixels and 259 pixels per inch.

The screen on Microsoft Lumia 640 XL uses ClearBlack technology and is protected with scratch-resistant Corning Gorilla Glass 3. The phablet comes with a 13 megapixels rear camera with a Zeiss F2.0 lens, LED flash and full-HD (1080p) video recording.

The 5MP 'selfie' camera provided on the front has a wide-angle 24mm lens with full-HD video recording as well.

Power and Performance

Microsoft Lumia 640 XL is powered with a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor capable of speeds of up to 1.2GHz, backed by an Adreno 305 GPU. RAM of 1GB and 8GB internal storage space are provided, with the storage memory extendable with a microSD card of up to 128GB.

Microsoft Lumia 640 XL runs on Windows Phone 8.1 OS out of the box and the software will be upgradeable to Windows 10 later in the year. The 9mm-thick phablet will be accompanied by a 3000mAh battery that can deliver up to 24 hours of talk time on a 3G connection, according to Microsoft.

Extra Specs and Perks

The device supports 4G LTE and is available in single-SIM and dual-SIM variants. There are also a variety of connectivity options, including Bluetooth 4.0, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n with Mobile Hotspot, NFC and microUSB.

You can work on the go with Lumia 640 XL as it comes with a full year Office 365 Personal subscription. In addition, buyers will get free 60 Skype minutes a month and 1TB of OneDrive storage. Entertainment and leisure is also catered for with apps such as WhatsApp and Instagram.

Microsoft Lumia 640 XL 3G variant is expected to sell for €190, while the 4G LTE will go for €220.

Pricing and availability

Microsoft Lumia 640 XL is not available in Nigeria, it will start shipping in April, 2015 in some countries. We currently have no information on pricing and availability for Nigeria. Microsoft Lumia 640 XL Price in Nigeria should range from N40,000 to N50,000 at launch.

The recently-unveiled Microsoft Lumia 640 is a mid-range Windows smartphone which stands apart from the previous Microsoft Lumie 6-Series devices like the Lumia 630. The device features an HD display and comes in single-SIM and dual-SIM variants.

Where to Buy Lumia Phones

Display and Camera

The display of the Microsoft Lumia 640 is better than the ones used on the older 6-Series devices, while the device itself is larger. The 5-inch IPS LCD display has an HD resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels with 294 pixels per inch.

Microsoft Lumia 640's multi-touch screen is protected by a scratch-resistant Corning Gorilla Glass 3. Microsoft provides an upgraded 8-megapixel camera with F2.2 aperture at the rear of the device and a 0.9-megapixel shooter on the front. The Lumia 640's main camera, which now comes with LED flash, can record full HD (1080p) videos at 30 fps.

Performance

Microsoft Lumia 640 runs on Windows Phone 8.1 operating system for now. But users will be able to upgrade the phone's software to the upcoming Windows 10 mobile platform later this year.

Processing power is supplied by a quad-core Snapdragon 400 chipset clocked at 1.2GHz, supported by a RAM of 1GB. Internal storage is 8GB, with this being expandable up to 128GB using a microSD, microSDHC or microSDXC card. Power for running the device is provided by a 2500mAh battery, capable of delivering more than 26 hours of talk time.

Other specifications

Available in single-SIM and dual-SIM models, the Microsoft Lumia 640 will have models supporting 3G and 4G networks. The device comes with a range of connectivity options, including USB 2.0, Bluetooth 4.0, NFC, DLNA and Wi-Fi b/g/n.

Microsoft Lumia 640 will be available in different colours, including black, white, cyan and orange. The official release of the device is scheduled for April, with the 3G model expected to cost €140 and the LTE model, €160.

Pricing and availability

Microsoft Lumia 640 is not available in Nigeria, it will start shipping in April, 2015 in some countries. We currently have no information on pricing and availability for Nigeria. Microsoft Lumia 640 Price in Nigeria should range from N28,000 to N38,000 at launch.

Microsoft Lumia 532 sounds like a decent enough replacement for the Lumia 520. It features the same 4-inch display and 5 megapixels camera, but now adds a front facing camera for video calls and selfies. It also offers dual-SIM support, has 1GB of RAM, and a quad-core processor. Microsoft Lumia 532 price in Nigeria ranges from 20,000 to 32,000 Naira depending on your location in the country.

Microsoft Lumia 435 is the first Lumia phone in the Lumia 400 series. It is also the first cheap Lumia phone to offer both a rear camera and a front camera for selfies and video calls. Lumia 435 also offers superfast HSPA+ internet on both SIMs, something that most smartphones at its price point do not offer. Microsoft Lumia 435 price in Nigeria ranges from 16,500 to 27,000 Naira.

Microsoft Lumia 532 bears close resemblance to the Lumia 435, but comes with better specs and features that should make for a more enhanced Windows user experience. The major enhancement includes a quad-core processor for a more zappy performance and a 5 megapixels camera for taking sharper photos. Microsoft Lumia 532 is also available in single SIM and dual SIM variants.

Where to Buy Lumia 532

Hardware & Software

Like the Lumia 435, the Microsoft Lumia 532 features the same 4-inch Touchscreen with 800 x 480 pixels resolution. Also the same is the 1GB of RAM, 8GB internal storage with up to 128GB of microSD card expandability, Microsoft’s free 30GB OneDrive cloud storage offer, and the same 1,560mAh battery.

The Microsoft Lumia 532 bears the same front camera at 0.3 megapixels, but the rear camera has been upgraded from 2 megapixels to 5 megapixels. As expected, Lumia 532 runs Windows Phone 8.1.

Aside the differences in the resolutions of the rear camera there are a couple of other differences between the two smartphones. One of the major difference is the 1.2GHz, quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 200 processor in the Lumia 532, which seems to be more efficient resulting in longer battery life.

For example, whereas the Lumia 435 provides 21 days of standby time, the Lumia 532 eclipses the Lumia 435 with a 22-day standby time. The Lumia 532 has a 12.5-hour Wi-Fi browsing performance time, as compared with the 9.4-hour Wi-Fi browsing time of the Lumia 435 (a 3-hour increase in Wi-Fi performance).

Conclusion

Microsoft Lumia 532 is a device that provides a little more in the areas of photography (back camera has a higher-megapixel count) and Wi-Fi browsing performance. With that said, if you rely on Wi-Fi more than 3G or 2G data and desire a device that aids in this endeavor, the Lumia 532 is the better performer.

Last but not least, the price should entice you as well. While the Lumia 435 costs only $81USD (69 euros), the Lumia 532 costs $93USD (81 euros) – so price will not deter you from getting the better device. Still, some users may save the 12 euros ($12USD or 2,500 Naira) and invest it in excellent Windows apps that improve their smartphone photography.

Pricing and availability

Microsoft Lumia 532 is now available in Nigeria. This smartphone is available at leading online stores in the country. Microsoft Lumia 532 Price in Nigeria ranges from N20,500 to N32,000, depending on your location in the country.

Microsoft Lumia 435 is a budget-friendly device for consumers looking for a cost effective smartphone. It features a 4-inch display with 480 x 800 pixels resolution and come in single SIM and Dual SIM variants. Microsoft Lumia 435 promises a solid performance with 1GB of RAM and superfast internet on both SIMs.

Where to Buy Lumia Phones

Hardware & Software

Microsoft Lumia 435 comes with a 1.2GHz, dual-core Snapdragon 200 processor with 1GB of RAM and 8GB of memory storage. It also offers a microSD card slot that enable add 128GB of built-in storage. For those that enjoy using the cloud, the Lumia 435 also features 30GB of free cloud storage.

Microsoft Lumia 435 houses a 1,560 mAh battery that provides 21 days of standby time, 11.7 hours of 3G talk time, 64 hours of music playback time, 9.4 hours of Wi-Fi browsing, and 6.6 hours of video playback time.

The 9 hours of Wi-Fi browsing time is excellent for a device that’s meant to cater to the budget-friendly crowd, and, along with the 64 hours of music playback and 7 hours of video playback, makes the Lumia 435 a device that can get you through the day. To compare, Microsoft Lumia 435 features a similar battery size similar to Apple’s iPhone 6 (as distinguished from the 6 Plus) – the iPhone 6 having a 1,810mAh battery, which is slightly larger (250mAh increase).

Most of the tradeoff in the Lumia 435 happens to be in the camera department. The smartphone features a 0.3 megapixels front camera and a 2 megapixels back camera. A 0.3 megapixels front camera is not likely to impress that much, and the same can be said for the 2MP back camera.

However, the Microsoft Lumia 435 is the first entry-level Lumia phone to feature a front facing camera. Its forerunners like the Lumia 520 and Lumia 530 lacked front cameras. Perhaps Microsoft now wants to take Skype to the mass market as the Lumia 435's front will support Skype video calls.

Microsoft Lumia 435 runs on Windows Phone 8.1. It features exchangeable back, double-tap-to-wake function, and Microsoft’s new Word flow keyboard, which should make for an enjoyable experience.

Pricing and availability

Microsoft Lumia 435 is now available in Nigeria. You can now buy the entry level smartphone at leading online stores in the country. Microsoft Lumia 435 Price in Nigeria ranges from N16,400 to N27,000 depending on your location in the country.

Microsoft Lumia 535 replaces the Lumia 520 as the best value Windows Phone based smartphone. It is also the first Lumia phone to drop the Nokia brand for Microsoft. Microsoft Lumia 535 price in Nigeria is ranges from 26,500 to 35,000 Naira depending on your location in the country.